Elburn might push back vote on video gambling

ELBURN – Village Board members may vote on whether to allow video gambling in Elburn, but that depends on whether two trustees attend Monday’s meeting.

Village President Dave Anderson described the vote as tentative. Trustee Jerry Schmidt has said he will miss the meeting. Another member, Ethan Hastert, might be out of town. In that case, Anderson said he would postpone the vote.

Video gambling appears headed for approval. Most board members have indicated they support reversing the village’s ban on video gambling, which has been in place since 2009. Officials who reversed their position said that the rules are better established than they were in 2009. Also, video gambling machines have been installed at the Blackberry Bar and Grill, which sits just south of Elburn on Route 47.

Sugar Grove recently voted to reverse its ban on video gambling. In that village, an advisory referendum is on the April ballot, but officials would not have to change their policy based on that.

One Elburn trustee, Ken Anderson, has spoken against allowing the machines. He said residents haven’t told him that video gambling is necessary in the village.

“Does this improve the quality of life in the village of Elburn?” asked Ken Anderson, adding he did not believe the answer is yes. He said most people he has spoken with have been opposed to video gambling.

“I’ve had two out of many of my neighbors who have said we should have it here, or people will go somewhere else,” he said. “I’ve had many more people who said we shouldn’t have it.”

Also on the agenda for Monday will be an open public hearing for the village’s 2013 comprehensive plan. There will not be a vote on the plans for the Elburn Station development. The vote on that project, which will bring 2,200 new homes to the village over a 20-year period in the area near the Metra station, is slated for March 18.